Golf caddy vehicle having spring supported golf club rack



March 31, 1959 R. 5. WILSON 2,880,012

GOLF CADDY VEHICLE HAVING SPRING SUPPORTED GOLF CLUB RACK Filed June 15,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

R/CHHAD 5 W/L SON Arrakzve'y March 31, 1959 1 R. s.'wu soN com CADDYVEHICLE HAVING ,SPRING SUPPORTED com CLUB RACK Filed Jfine 15, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICH/4RD s. W/[ scw United States Patent GOLFCADDY VEHICLE HAVING SPRING SUPPORTED GOLF CLUB RACK Richard S. Wilson,Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application June 15, 1955, Serial No. 515,713

Claims. (Cl. 280-4719) My invention relates to golf club caddy vehicleshaving racks attached and has particular reference to a novel rackconstruction and mounting so that golf clubs are retained in a rackregardless of the severity of jolting, dropping or vibration.

Racks for retaining golf clubs have become important with the increasein use of wheeled carts for the carrying of clubs. Such carts aregenerally manually pulled and of two wheel construction and are referredto as caddy carts. More recently, self-propelled vehicles for carryingthe player and his clubs have been used, and here also racks areattached to the vehicle for retaining the clubs. Racks permit the clubsto be spread out for easy selection. Also racks permit separation of theclubs as contrasted to jumbling the clubs together as has been thepractice in the past. Racks therefore prevent clubs from marring andnicking each other, making unnecessary protective coverings for the clubheads.

The principal difiiculty with racks heretofore used has been the loss ofclubs when the carts or vehicles have traveled over rough terrain. Thisjolting has loosened all conventional types of clips and retainers sothat clubs would drop off the racks, often without knowledge of theplayer. It has not been sufiicient to place the heavy club head down soas to rest against a support. Even when this is tried, the joltingforces acting on the club shafts dislodge the shafts from theirretainers, causing the club to fall off of the rack.

I have discovered that this dislodging of clubs even during violentjolting can be prevented by the spring mounting of the rack on itscarrier. Furthermore, I have discovered that the spring mounting must beso designed that warping and twisting forces are not transmitted fromthe hand pulled caddy vehicle or power vehicle to the frame itself. Myresearch has lead to the discovery that a leaf spring is best suited forthis spring mounting of a rack to its vehicle.

It is therefore a general object of my invention to provide a superiortype of golf club rack and caddy vehicle construction.

Another object is to provide a spring mounted rack free of twistingforces when in use.

Another object is to provide a spring mounting for caddy vehicle racks.

A further object is to provide a golf club rack that may be simplyattached to any type of carrier. I

Another object is to provide a readily detachable club rack that may beused as a retainer for transporting golf clubs.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will be apparentin the following description and claims considered together with theaccompanying drawings forming an integral part of this specification inwhich: Fig. l is a side elevation view showing my golf rack applied to amanually pulled caddy vehicle.

I Fig/2 is a perspective view of the vehicle of Fig. 1. with a rackembodying the invention attached thereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper leaf spring connectingthe rack to the caddy vehicle.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an optional clamp bar which may beapplied to the rack of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of rack embodying theinvention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the locking lug taken along the lineVIIIVIII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view partly in section of a modified form of leafspring for connecting golf club frames to caddy vehicle.

Fig. 10 is an end View of the leaf spring of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the leaf spring of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a view partly in section of a modified form of latch forholding club shafts against the rack.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, my club rack 10 may be mounted to anysuitable carrier, manually propelled or self propelled, and forillustrative purposes there is shown a presently available type oftwo-wheeled manual carrier 11. These carriers 11 are generally referredto as caddy carts and may have two wheels 12 joined to an upright framemember 13 to which a handle 14 may be secured at its upper end. Asuitable rest such as a bracket 16 may be disposed on the bottom end ofthe frame member to act as a third point of support when the cart 11 isnot being propelled, in which case the frame 11 may be substantiallyvertical.

Referring now to the details of construction of the frame 10, I desireto make the frame 10 as light as possible and employ at present aninturned channel 17 bent into a rectangular outline. A single piece ofmetal is preferable, having its ends welded or riveted together. Aplurality of horizontal cross bars 18, 19 and 21 may be secured to theframe, and their fastening is facilitated by disposing their ends withinthe inturned channel 17. The cross bar 18 may have a plurality ofelastic clips 22 secured thereto as by a self tapping screw 23. Theseclips and the mode of attachment may be conventional if desired. Thecross bar 19 may be of a soft material such as rubber, plastic or woodand has notches 24 therein for receiving golf club shafts. The bar 21may be of metal in which case it may be covered with a soft materialsuch as a plastic or rubber extrusion to prevent damage to clubs. Thebottom bar of the frame 17 may be similarly covered as by a channelshaped plastic extrusion 30 (Fig. 2). The heads of iron clubs 26 mayrest against the transverse bar 21, whereas the heads of wood clubs 25may rest against the bottom bar of frame 17.

Considering now the leaf spring structure, the upper and lower leafsprings may be identical if desired and hence only the upper leaf springis shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The frame 10 is secured to theframe upright 13 by an upper leaf spring 27 and a lower leaf spring 28.The upper leaf spring 27 may be formed from a sheet of metal having ahorizontal portion 29 and a bent right angle flange 31. This flange maybe secured to a suitable horizontal bar on the frame, preferably theupper frame bar. Any suitable fasteners may be used and self threadingscrews 32 are illustrated.

The part of the leaf spring 27 adjacent to the caddy cart frame member13 may be stiffened by riveting thereto, or otherwise suitably fasteninga strip 33. The fastener preferably projects on the downward side fromthe strip 33 and there are illustrated fasteners in the form of doubleheaded rivets 34 of which the bottom head is preferably of greaterdepths. These fastener heads may project through apertures in ahorizontal bar attached to the caddy vehicle. Accordingly, an anglemember 36 may be secured to the upright bar 13 as by a U-clamp 37secured by nut and bolt means 38. The horizontal flange of this anglemember 36 is apertured to receive the heads 'of fasteners 34. Disposedbetween the fasteners 34 may be a manually operable fastener connectingthe leaf spring to the angle member 36. This may be of any desired typeand there is illustrated a wing nut type of fastener 39 having a part ofits shaft engaging a diagonal slot in a stationary member 41. Othersuitable fasteners could be used such as an ordinary wing nut operatingupon a threaded stud. Also, latches of any suitable type could be used,the purpose being merely to hold the heads of fasteners 34 in theapertures in the angle member 36.

Illustrated in Fig. 6 is a modified form of frame 10A which is mountedupon a modified type of spring illustrated in Figs. 9 through 11. Theframe 10A may have a continuous mechanical outline as by a member 42having an upper horizontal bar portion 42A and a lower horizontal barportion 428. The frame 10A may have a plurality of inserted cross barsincluding an upper notch bar 43, a pair of latch bars 44 and 45, anintermediate notch bar 46 and a lower notch bar 47. The notch bars maybe of any suitable construction, for example, an outwardly facingchannel having an inserted notched piece of rubber or plastic. The lowerframe member 42B may have a suitable protective covering placed over itso that the heads of wood clubs 25 may rest against it. The portion ofcross bar 47 against which the iron clubs 26 bears may be similarlyprotected.

Referring to Figs. 9 through 11, the upper frame bar 42A may have a pairof spaced angle brackets 48 secured thereto and each may have anaperture. The projecting portion of these angles may be plastic coated,if desired, to reduce noise during use of the frame. Removably disposedbetween the angle brackets 48 is a shallow U-shaped bracket 49 havingapertures through each ear of the U-shape. A rod member 51 isreciprocally mounted in these apertures. A leaf spring 52 is riveted at59 or otherwise secured to the bracket 49. The leaf spring may berigidly connected to the caddy cart at its other end as by means ofrivets through holes 53. This construction is therefore the reverse ofthat in Fig. 3, and in Figs. 9 through 11, the leaf spring 52 has itscantilever mounting on the caddy cart instead of the frame as in Fig. 3.As shown in more detail in Fig. 11, an overload leaf spring 61 may bedisposed under the leaf spring 52 and may be suitably secured to it asby rivets 63 passing through both springs and through an angle member 62which may be secured to the caddy cart.

The reciprocating rod 51 is the latch member by means of which the frameis removed from the caddy cart. A V-shaped bend 51A may be formed in therod to obtain an easy manual grasp of the rod. A friction fit collar 54is passed over one end of the rod 51 and limits its movement to the leftas viewed in Fig. 9. Compression spring 56 urges the rod to the left inFig. 9 by bearing against the bracket 49 at one end and against a washer57 held on the rod 51 by any suitable means such as a cotter pin 58.Preferably the spring when compressed stops the rod 51 so that its leftend (Fig. 9) is just flush with the exterior surface of the bracket 49.This permits a user to grasp the V-bend 51A and move the rod 51 to theright in Fig. 9, disengaging the angle members 48, but limiting rodmovement so that it does not disengage the rod bracket 49 also.Sufficient clearance between the rod and the apertures of angle member 43 allows angular movement between the frame and the bracket 49 tocomplete the unlatching action.

illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are improved fastening devices in theform of rotatable latch members 66. These members may be secured to thelocking bars 44 and 45 by means of a threaded shank 67 having its outerend threaded into a length of metal bar 68. The metal bar 68 is coatedwith a resilient type of plastic preferably by dipping in a liquidplastic to become coated thereby to a considerable depth as illustrated.Accordingly, the plastic forms a thick cushion 69 about the metal bar68. The latch bars 44 and 45 may have resilient strips 71 adhered orotherwise attached thereto. The shafts of the golf clubs 26 may bearagainst this cushion 71 and are held against it by the latch member 66.

In the operation of the latch members 66 shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, theclubs 26 or 25 are inserted in the rack and each club is held inposition by virtue of fitting into notches in the cross bars 43 and 46or 47. The latch members 66 being disposed between these notch bars arein a position to lock the golf club shafts into the notches. The stem 67of each latch, which is preferably very finely threaded, is threadedinto the latch bar 44 or 45 to the proper depth whereby the cushion 69will tightly hold the shaft of the club 26 against the cushion 71. Theselatches 66 rotate to effect this latching operation. When upright theypermit removal of the clubs from the notches. When rotated 90 in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 the threads pull the entirelatch 66 toward the shaft of the club gaining compression from thethreads as well as compression due to the resilient cushion 69.

Illustrated in Fig. 5 is another form of a clamping mechanism which maybe permanently or removably attached to the frame. Accordingly, a latchbar 72 may have a resilient cushion 73 on its inner face and it may besecured to the frame 17 as by a hinge 74 secured to one end. The otherend of the clamp bar 72 may have a spring catch 76 secured to the otherend which may engage the opposite side of the frame member 17 to latchthe bar tightly against the shafts of the clubs 25 and 26 disposed inthe frame. This latch bar is particularly useful when the frame is usedas a retainer for the clubs during traveling when the frame is removedfrom the carrier. Alternatively, both ends of the bar 72 may havecatches '76 so that the bar is completely removable.

Referring to Fig. 12, there is illustrated a modified form of latchfastened to a transverse frame member 44A. The frame member may have astrip of resilient material 70, such as foam rubber, applied against ithaving apertures in registry with tapped bores 71 in the member 44A. Ametal core 72 may be bored on one end and a screw 73 passed therethroughwith a freely sliding clearance. A helical compression spring 74 maysurround the screw shank to bear against the metal core 72 and the framemember 44A. A plastic covering 75 Y may extend about the metal core 72.The screw 73 is threaded into the member 44A as by a screw driver, andthe particular distance selected is maintained by a wing nut 76. Thisplastic covering may be applied by dipping and in this event a smallbulge may be formed on one end at 77 to assist engagement of the latcharound a club shaft 26. The core 72 and its plastic covering 75 may befreely pivoted on the screw 73 for locking or unlocking the club shaft.

Considering now the operation of the device of Figs. 1 to 4, the anglebars 36 are clamped to the frame 13 of the caddy cart 11 and the caddycart is thereupon ready to receive the club frame 10 with its attachedleaf springs 27 and 28. The projecting heads of the rivets 34 are fittedwithin the apertures of the angle bars 36, thereby positioning the leafspring thereon. The manually operated latch or lock 39 is then operatedto lock the leaf spring to the bar 36. This completes the as? sembly ofthe rack 10, the mounting springs 27 and 28 and the cart 11. Thereafterthe cart may be pulled over rough terrain and the clubs will not belost, the leaf springs cushioning the blows. Furthermore, the centermounting of the leaf springs on the frame It) prevents twisting of theframe which might otherwise eject a club.

The operation of the device of Figs. 6 to 11 is somewhat similar to thatof Figs. 1 to 4 except that the attachment of the spring is reversed.The angle member 62 is attached to a caddy vehicle, either self poweredor pulled, and the leaf spring 58 and the overload spring 61 arepermanently fastened to it. The golfer may insert the pin 51 through theaperture of the bracket 48 (Fig. 9) and then depress the pin 51 manuallyuntil it fits within its bracket whereupon the pin 51 will spring intothe aperture of the bracket because of the spring 54. The leaf spring isthus pivotally connected to the frame member 42A. The frame 10A isaccordingly Spring mounted on its carrier vehicle (not shown). Todisconnect the frame 10A from its springs, the golfer merely depressesthe pin 51 with a golf tee or other pointed object until it clears itsbracket 48 whereupon the frame 10A is elastically distorted to clear therod 52 and the stationary pin 49 is then removed from its bracket 48.

This pivotal mounting of the frame 10A on the leaf spring 58 provides apure cantilever spring mounting as contrasted to the doubly restrainedcantilever of Figs. 1 to 4. The frame may move under response to blowsand the overload spring 61 will help to cushion the most severe load.

While I have described my invention with respect to specific embodimentsthereof, I do not limit myself to those embodiments nor otherwise, butinclude all modifications and variations as come within the true spiritand scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising: a caddy vehicle having a generallyvertical frame; a generally vertical frame for holding golf clubsgenerally upright and having an upper frame bar and a lower frame bar; apair of generally horizontal cantilever leaf springs mechanicallyfastened one each to the upper bar and the lower bar; a pair ofhorizontally extending bars secured to the vehicle frame and spacedvertically with respect to each other the same distance as the spacingbetween the leaf springs; and manually operable fasteners for removablyconnecting the projecting ends of the cantilever leaf springs to thehorizontal bars.

2. The combination comprising: a caddy vehicle having a generallyvertical frame; a generally vertical frame for holding golf clubsgenerally upright and having an upper horizontal bar and a lowerhorizontal bar; a pair of horizontal bars secured to the vehicle andspaced vertically the same distance as the frame bars; a pair ofhorizontal leaf springs extending one between the upper frame bar andthe upper vehicle bar and one between the lower frame bar and the lowervehicle bar; permanent mechanical fastenings for securing one end ofeach spring to its associated bar; and manually operable fasteners forremovably securing the other end of each spring to its bar.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein the manuallyoperable fastener is disposed at the vehicle bars of each spring.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein the manuallyoperable fastener is disposed at the frame bar of each spring.

5. For use in a golf club rack and vehicle combination having a pair ofspaced apertured members projecting from the rack, a leaf springstructure for mounting the rack on the vehicle comprising: a generallyhorizontal vehicle bar; a leaf spring secured to the bar and having anouter end engageable with said rack; an overload leaf spring secured tothe bar under said leaf spring and extending approximately halfway toouter end of the leaf spring; a U-shaped bracket secured to the outerend of the leaf spring parallel to the bar and having its end apertured;and a reciprocating rod disposed in the apertures of the bracket andspring biased to extend in one direction, whereby the rack may beremovably supported by the leaf spring structure by rod engaging theprojecting apertured members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS595,139 Blakely Dec. 7, 1897 1,404,893 Robertson et al. Jan. 31, 19221,679,325 Black July 31, 1928 2,368,752 Duis Feb. 6, 1945 2,520,226Smith Aug. 29, 1950 2,639,163 Walker May 19, 1953 2,647,762 Jamieson etal. Aug. 4, 1953 2,676,710 Williamson Apr. 27, 1954 2,687,895 RutledgeAug. 31, 1954

